Extension device



Dec. 20, 1938.A s. o. MYRBEl-ca` l 2,141,068 l EXTENSION .DEvicE Filed Dec. 17, 1954 P I I m; Il llr rl' l illlllli f2 /f /o /5 z5 ff A y jfzverzof Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSION DEVICE Rhode Island Application December 17, 1934, Serial No. 757,806

7 Claims.

My present invention relates to the jewelry art, and has particular reference to the construction of extension devices for bracelets and watch straps.

Extension devices have heretofore been made with folding plates adapted to be releasably locked in folded position; and adjustments have been provided to permit changes in the overall length of the extension device to better fit the bracelet or watch strap to the wrist of the wearer.

These adjustments 4have necessitated opening the bracelet or watch strap to change lthe setting of the adjusting mechanism; it is the principal object of my invention to devise a construction which will facilitate and permit 'adjustment whether the extension device is in open or closed position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an adjusting mechanism which is suitable for use with thin and with narrow extension devices, whereby a relatively large extension and a substantial amount of adjustment is obtainable with extension devices that are extremely cornpact when in folded position.

It is an additional object of lmy invention to provide an adjustable extension device formed of a small number of sturdy and strong parts.

With these and other advantageous features in View, the invention consists of a novel `arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the extension device in closed, adjusted position;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the extension device, the folding' parts being in opened relation;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the extension device, the folding parts being extended;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but broken away to show the adjusting mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, the bracelet or watch strap I0, preferably formed ofvseparate links II hingedly connected together by hinges I2, includes an extension device I3. The extension device comprises a top plate III having side channels I5, in which a link I6 is slidably mounted, the link I6 being secured to one end of the bracelet I0, an intermediate plate II hinged to the top plate, and a base plate I8 hinged to the intermediate plate and secured to the other end of the bracelet I0.

As shown in Fig. 4, the link I6 is formed with opens.

a central space I9, one side of the link adjacent M thereto having a plurality of ratchet teeth a spring plate 2| is mounted in the top plate,

adjacent the link I6, and has an upstan'ding catch 22 adapted to selectively engage the teeth 20, the spring plate also having a finger detent 23 extending through an opening 24 in one side channel I5. Y

The channels I5 formed by bending the material inwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 5, resf() ceive the intermediate and the base plates, the

latter having side walls 25 and snap projections 26 engageable with the edges of the'channels I5,

to releasably Aretain the parts in closed relation;

a finger catch 21, see Figs. 2 and 3, is provided; on the top plate to facilitate opening of the extension device.

The spring plate 2l as clearly disclosed in Fig. 3 has a spaced pair of ears 3l) at its end, mounted on the pin 3| connecting the top plate I4 and the intermediate link I'I, the intermediate link I'I having an eye portion 32 which is positioned on the pin 3| between the spaced ears 30.

'I'he operation of the device may now be eX- plained; with the device in closed position, the finger catch is lifted, and the extension device The catch 22 is still engaged with a selected tooth 20, however, but may be released by pressing the detent 23 by the thumb nail or finger nail, thus moving the catch 22 away from i the ratchet teeth and allowing opening or pulling out of the link I6, which is of course held against complete removal from the plate I4 by providing a stop 28, see Fig. 3, engaging a cross bar 29 of the link, or by other suitable lock means. When the detent 23 is no longer under pressure, the catch reengages the ratchet teeth to prevent outward movement of the link I6, while permitting inward movement until a desired overall length is obtained.

The described arrangement is suitable for bracelets and Watch straps of any type, whether link, mesh, leather, etc.; the parts are solid and sturdy, and present a completely closed, attractive appearance. The adjusting mechanism permits a selective length setting whether the extension device is open or closed, and a further contraction after the extension device is folded in closed relation.

Although the sliding link has been described as slidably engaging the top plate, it is obvious that it may cooperate with the base plate, and that other desired changes in the arrangement, number, and size of the parts and in their operation, may be made to conform to different designs of bracelets, within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. VIn an extensible connector for bracelets, a plate having side Walls, and a link of stamped metal slidably mounted in said plate and extendible from lthe free end thereof, said plate having an opening in one side wall, said link having a central longitudinal opening, a series of longitudinally disposed ratchet teeth on one side of said longitudinal opening, and a pawl member mountedin said plate and having a spring arm terminating in a transversely bent pawl selectively engageable With said teeth and in a manually engageable lateral extension movably seated in said side wall opening.

2. In an extensible connector for bracelets, a plate having side walls, and a link of stamped metal slidably mounted in said plate and extendible from the free end thereof, said plate having an opening in one side wall, said link having a central longitudinal opening, one side of said longitudinal opening having a series of longitudinally disposed ratchet teeth, and a paWl member mounted in said plate and having a spring arm terminating in a transversely bent pawl selectively receivable in said teeth and in a manually engageable lateral extension movably seated in said side wall opening, and means for limiting movement of said link from said plate.

3. In an extensible connector for bracelets, a plate having side Walls, and a link of stamped metal slidably mounted in said-plate and extendible from the free end thereof, said plate having an `opening in one side wall, said link having a central longitudinal opening, one side of said longitudinal'opening having a series of longitudinally disposed recesses, and a pawl member mounted in said plate and having a spring arm terminating in a transversely bent pawl selectively receivable in said recesses and in a manually engageable lateral extension movably seated in said side Wall opening, and means for limiting movement of said link from said plate.

4. In a bracelet construction, in combination, a housing link having a top and longitudinal side walls, a movable member in said top having a pair of ears in registry with said side walls substantially at one end thereof, a folding link having an eye portion bridging one end of said housing link adjacent said ears, a pin extending through said ears and said eye portion, a sliding link slidably disposed between the side walls of said housing link and contacting said movable member, and cooperating ratchet and pawl means located on said movable and said sliding link.

5. In a bracelet construction, in combination, a housing link having a top and longitudinal side walls, a movable member in said top having a pair of ears in registry with said side walls substantially at one end thereof, a folding link having an eye portion bridging one end of said housing linkadjacent said ears, a pin extending through said ears and said eye portion, a sliding link slidably disposed between the side walls of said housing link and contacting said movable member, cooperating ratchet and pawl means located on said movable member and said sliding link, and a fingerpiece secured to said movable member and extending from said housing link.

- 6. In a bracelet construction, in combination, a housing link having a top and longitudinal side walls, a movable member in said top having a pair of ears in registry with said side walls substantially at one end thereof, a folding link having an eye portion bridging one end of said housing link adjacent said ears, a pin extending through said ears and said eye portion, a sliding link slidably mounted between the sidewalls of said housing link, and cooperating ratchet and pawl means located on said movable member and said sliding link.

7. In a bracelet construction, in combination, a housing link having a top and longitudinal side walls, a movable member in said top having a pair of ears in registry vwith said side walls substantially at one end thereof, a folding link having an eye portion bridging one end of said housing link adjacent said ears, a pin extending through said ears and said eye portion, a sliding link slidably mounted between the side walls of said housing link and resting upon said movable member, cooperating ratchet and pawl means located on said movable member and said sliding link, and a fingerpiece secured to said movable member and extending from said housing link.

SVEN O. MYRBERG. 

